Issue - meetings

Councillor Cathy Martyn, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Safety, and the Director of Housing submitted a joint report seeking Cabinet‘s approval on the proposals to change staffing arrangements within sheltered housing. These proposals would end recruitment of Residential Sheltered Housing Officer, and move to a non-residential service model. In addition, they would continue to provide support to tenants living in sheltered housing complexes with a dedicated team that incrementally becomes a non–residential model of employment.

The report is necessary to enable the Council to address the shortfall in service charge that funds the service; modernise working practices and reduce the overall workforce size; and release additional social rented accommodation that was formerly used as staff accommodation.

Councillors Paul Dixon and Ray Ballman asked the following question or made comments, to which Councillor Martyn and the Director of Housing responded at the meeting.

1)     How widely did the Council measure itself? Just with those taking this approach? The Council looked at a range of local and regional providers as well as the national picture.

2)     Why were Opposition Members’ comments on the draft Cabinet Member Decision Note not included in the Cabinet report? The purpose in bringing the proposal to Cabinet and hence Scrutiny was to ensure a wider debate.

3)     Could the service be funded by Adult Social Care or from other savings? This would require support from the general fund and would not address the recruitment issues the service already has. The proposals would support a resilient on-going service.

4)     How would the same level of service be maintained? Currently there is an expectation that staff provide a 24/7 service, which they are not contracted to do, which has adversely affected recruitment. The proposals seek to provide a resilient service for all resident.

The Leader of the Council added that Councillor Martyn had been subject to rigorous challenge on these issues prior to bringing these reports. 

Resolved: (1) That the proposals to end the recruitment of residential Sheltered Housing Officers be approved and the changes to a model of service delivery based on a cluster team model rather than a dedicated sheltered housing officer at the majority of schemes, as set out in the body of the report, be approved.

(2) That the Director of Housing be authorised to reallocate the former sheltered housing staff accommodation once it becomes vacant as outlined in in the body of the report, ensuring that allocations are sensitive to the location and if appropriate allocated to under occupying households.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.